Symptoms

Because common conditions, like food poisoning or constipation, can cause abdominal pain, it can often be difficult to know when your symptoms require a trip to the ER. If you are having unexplained or severe abdominal pain, or if you are in doubt about the cause of your abdominal pain, it is always best to be examined by a professional. If your stomach pain is severe, chronic, or accompanied by additional symptoms, visit your nearest ER as soon as possible to receive a diagnosis and treatment.

Causes

If the abdominal pain is severe and unrelenting, your stomach is tender to the touch, or if the pain extends to your back, you should immediately visit the closest emergency department. Causes of abdominal pain include:

• Constipation or bowel gas
• Food poisoning
• Heartburn, reflux, or GERD
• Stomach virus]
• Stomach flu
• Urinary Tract Infections

Treatments

Stabilization includes administering IV fluids, analgesics, and, when appropriate, antibiotics. Once a patient has been stabilized and a diagnosis made, appropriate definitive therapy can be initiated. Definitive treatment can be medical or surgical, depending on the primary cause of acute abdomen pain.